Man threw mom down stairs in will dispute, cops say

A man threw his 77-year-old mother down stairs into the basement of an assisted-living home this week after a disagreement over a will, Arlington Heights police said.

Wayne Weinke Jr., 50, of the 600 block of Broadway Avenue, Park Ridge, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery of a senior citizen, police said. He was released on $350,000 bail.

Gloria Weinke was in the intensive care unit at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights Thursday evening, police said.

Paramedics were called to the Moorings of Arlington Heights around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and found Gloria Weinke in her basement, about 12 feet below a first-floor foyer, police said.

Wayne Weinke left his mother's villa Tuesday without telling anyone about what happened, police said. It is believed his mother was on the basement floor for about 12 hours, they said.

Staff from the Moorings checked on Gloria Weinke Tuesday evening when she did not show up for dinner, Police Cmdr. Jeffrey DuFloth said.

She was conscious and told police that her son had thrown her over the railing after a heated discussion about the will, DuFloth said.

"There had been an ongoing discussion about inheritance since his father died in March," DuFloth said. "He has been unhappy with the wording. There may have been some additions [to the will]."

Police were posted at the hospital where Wayne Weinke's mother was being treated, and he was arrested there later that evening when family members called him there, DuFloth said.

Wayne Weinke, who is listed as president and co-owner of Way-Ken Contractors Supply Co. in Chicago, did not return calls to his home Thursday.

His brother, Ken, refused to comment on the alleged attack against his mother.

The Moorings has different levels of assistance for residents, said Carolyn Staven, spokeswoman for Presbyterian Homes, which owns the 45-acre facility at 811 E. Central Rd.

Gloria Weinke lives in one of 81 villas and did not require close monitoring by the staff.

Wayne Weinke's next court date is Aug. 22 in the Rolling Meadows courthouse.